Tim Burton

Despite his contrarian artiste nature and indie filmmaker persona, director Tim Burton helmed some of the biggest blockbusters in Hollywood history. With his roots in drawing and animation, Burton cra...
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English acting icon Sir Christopher Lee is set to be honoured with a prestigious British Film Institute (BFI) Fellowship at the 2013 London Film Festival. The Lord of the Rings villain, also known for his role as Count Dracula in the popular Hammer Horror films, will be presented with the BFI's highest accolade in recognition of his contributions to cinema during the event's awards ceremony on 19 October (13).
The 91 year old says, "It is a great privilege to be included amongst such a distinguished group of predecessors who have received this Award from the BFI."
The news was announced at a special press conference on Monday (07Oct13), when London Mayor Boris Johnson paid tribute to Lee, stating, "Congratulations to Sir Christopher on being awarded this distinguished accolade for a film career that has been genuinely iconic."
Lee's recognition comes one year after he presented the same award to filmmaker Tim Burton and his partner, actress Helena Bonham Carter.
The 57th London Film Festival will kick off in the U.K. capital on Wednesday (09Oct13).

Helena Bonham Carter's representative has slammed reports suggesting the actress' longtime partner Tim Burton is cheating on her, insisting snapshots of the director kissing a blonde are not what they seem. A grainy photograph of the filmmaker and a mystery woman kissing outside a theatre appeared in the New York Post on Thursday (03Oct13), sparking gossip that Burton is cheating on the English actress.
But a representative for the Les Miserables star is now speaking out about the reports, telling Britain's Daily Express, "This is absolutely nonsense. The pictures were taken whilst they were out and the large group includes family, friends and work colleagues."
Bonham Carter and Burton have been together for 12 years and have two children together.

"I didn't really start dressing myself until I was f**king 16. I always had a stylist. So I think my dad wanted me to figure all that out on my own." Former child star Miley Cyrus only started expressing her personality through her wardrobe choices during her teens.

Stop looking at me, swan! If you were between the ages of 10 and 20 in 1995, and you had the pleasure of receiving a fourth-tier education at any one of the country's public schools, chances are you already know the film in which that memorable line of dialogue was uttered. Yep, Billy Madison may have been one of the most inane movies ever to have been released by a major studio, but to those who know and love Adam Sandler's earlier work (we're talking anything made before he went all mainstream with 1999's Big Daddy), this surrealist exploration of an adult male that must go back to school in order to take over his dad's hotel business is right up there with Citizen Kane. Now if only everyone else saw it that way. Here's a look back at Billy Madison.
Funny StrangeIn today's Hollywood economy, where risk-averse franchises supersede any type of originality, it's doubtful that a film like Billy Madison could ever be greenlit. What can you say, when a running story line in your script involves an overgrown penguin, who serves no functional purpose aside to torment Sandler's overgrown manchild of a character, well then, that's not exactly a slam dunk in the pitch room. But hey, at least Sandler had the cojones to do it a couple of decades ago!
Watch Out for the Dead ClownIn the very scene that illuminates why Billy Madison is such a wonderfully bad movie, watch closely as a trickle of blood spews from the clown's mouth after he falls. Everyone points and laughs, even as he seemingly meets his maker. And why shouldn't they – he is a clown, after all! Billy Madison was full of these hilarious little moments where the scene's complete 180 in tone caused you to scratch your head for a moment, right before you busted out laughing. Stupid, yes. But also very funny.
He Will Turn This Damn Bus Around!You can say that the greatest film of Chris Farley's brief, but memorable career was Tommy Boy, which coincidentally also came out in 1995. But fans of Billy Madison will recognize Farley's high-strung bus driver as some of the heavyweight performer's finest comedic acting. Watch as his face nearly explodes when a student hits him in the face with a sandwich.
Sandler Was Actually FunnyI know what you're thinking, Adam Sandler has been making hugely successful movies for over 20 years now. That's got to count for something, right? Well, yes, technically. But for a brief period in the mid-90s, a young Adam Sandler, who was fresh off his "Bad Boys" days as a cast member on SNL, made a few really dumb movies, among them, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and even The Wedding Singer to a certain degree, that were also really funny. But then something happened – Sandler started broadening his act towards a wider sect of the movie-going public. And since then (1998, to be exact) we've had to suffer through travesties like Click, That's My Boy and (gasp!) Jack and Jill. All one needs to do is watch something as incredibly bland as Grown Ups 2 and ask yourself, "Wow, is this really the same dude?" Sadly, yes. Yes it is. But hey, at least we've still got the movie about the overgrown penguin!
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Aaron D. Settipane/WENNWhile Pharrell Williams has continued to be as prolific this decade as he was during his '00s heyday, his commercial streak appeared to have completely deserted him. N.E.R.D.'s last album, Nothing, sold less than 20,000 copies in its first week, unlikely collaborations with Mika, Gloria Estefan and The Hives came and went without any fanfare while you had to go as far back as Gwen Stefani's "Wind It Up" in 2006 to find his last Top 10 hit as producer. However, thanks to his contributions on two of the biggest songs of the summer, Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," he’s now re-emerged as one of pop's best-loved creative forces. Here's a look at five of the best singles to bear his name on the credits.
Kelis – "Get Along With You"Williams' production duo, The Neptunes, arguably never bettered their work on Kelis' highly under-rated debut, Kaleidoscope, the highlight of which was this emotionally charged rejection of material possessions which came equipped with an equally stunning Tim Burton-esque video.
Britney Spears – "I’m A Slave 4 U"A decade before Miley Cyrus' desperately try-hard attempt to distance herself from her teen-pop past, Chad Hugo and Williams helped Britney Spears to make a similar transition look effortless with this supremely sensual slice of R&amp;B which drew comparisons with everyone from Janet Jackson to Prince.
Justin Timberlake – "Like I Love You"Doing for Timberlake what they did for his former sweetheart, the Neptunes struck gold again with a hypnotic blend of acoustic guitars, spacey electro bleeps and lo-fi beats which immediately positioned the 'N Sync star as a potential King of Pop.
Pharrell ft. Jay-Z – "Frontin'"Following on from N.E.R.D.'s In Search Of, Pharrell's debut solo single "Frontin'" continued to prove that he could cut it as a frontman too with a soaring falsetto-led vocal which matched perfectly with the slick hip-hop funk production.
Solange – "I Decided"Having previously worked with Beyoncé on the likes of "Work It Out" and "Green Light," The Neptunes then teamed up with the other Miss Knowles for an impossibly joyous Motown pastiche inspired by the likes of The Supremes and Martha &amp; The Vandellas.
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Visual/WENNIt’s time for your inner child to freak the freak out. Before Harry Potter, before The Hunger Games, before Fifty Shades of Grey (yeah, I went there) there was a literary series like no other. R. L. Stine’s children’s horror books Goosebumps were wildly popular in the 1980s and '90s, and when the series spawned a television show, it was kind of a huge deal. Back in 1998, Tim Burton was attached to a Goosebumps film that never came to fruition, but now the project is officially back in the works. Burton is no longer directing, but we can think of five other reasons to still get creepy-excited about this.
The Jack Black Factor
As of right now, Bernie star Jack Black is in the midst of negotiations, and is expected to take on the lead role in the movie. Can you imagine Jack Black playing an R.L. Stine-esque writer, whose literary creations start coming to life in real and frightening ways? Yes, so can we.
The Monsters vs Aliens Director Is On Board
Rob Letterman is no Tim Burton, but this could actually be a good thing. The young director brought us (and, okay, our children) Monsters vs Aliens back in 2009, and since folks like Reese Witherspoon and Seth Rogen were on board that project, we expect he might pull out some heavy-hitters to join Jack Black on this one.
You Now Have An Excuse To Re-read The Cuckoo Clock Of Doom
Movies made from the stuff of childhood allow us to do the one thing we want to do pretty much every day —relive the magic. So head on over to Amazon and start pretending you’re nine again. You’ll feel so accomplished when you finish reading three whole books in 45 minutes. Then you’ll have an excuse to watch some of the series on Netflix because – oh yeah – Goosebumps the series is on Netflix!
The Fast &amp; Furious Producer Is Involved
Look, the truth is that Hollywood has been known to destroy...things. Lots of things. Literary classics, careers, and childhood memories have all suffered greatly at the hands of the big screen. However, we have high hopes for Goosebumps the movie, partly because Neal H. Moritz (the guy responsible for totally reviving the Fast &amp; Furiousfranchise) is producing.
You Can Twitter-Stalk R.L. Stine For Updates
If you’re not following R.L. Stine on Twitter right now, then what exactly are you doing? His bio reads: 'My job: to terrify kids.' And he’s been tweeting updates about the movie as well as his other projects, his love for wheat thins, and Demi Lovato. It's awesome.
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Some celebrities take time out of their busy schedules of being famous to do charity work and take part in social causes. In the United States, the highest honor that a civilian can get is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, while in England, people are knighted and officially called “Sir” or “Dame.” Lucky for them, knighted celebs don’t have to go jousting or hang out in crusades, but they do get pretty awesome bragging rights. Of course, none of the following celebrities are “Sir” enough to match the one and only Sir Mix-A-Lot, but then again, who can?
Bow down, children – these 7 celebrities are recognized royalty in their home countries.
Elton John Elton John’s real name is Sir Elton Hercules John (actually it used to be Reginald Dwight, but we don’t need to go there). Knighted in 1998 for his charitable work and for being, well, Elton f**kng John, the Rocket Man has done a great deal for both music and charities, including campaigning hard for AIDS awareness since the 1980s.
Helen Mirren Helen Mirren may have pretended to be the Queen of England, but she is a genuine Dame. In 1996, Mirren was offered appointment as Commander of the British Order in 1996, but she declined, instead accepting damehood for her contributions to the performing arts in 2003. Her full title is Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire – with a title like that, it’s understandable why she held out. Really, though, Mirren should’ve received damehood just for those famously smoking hot bikini pictures.
Mick Jagger Fellow Rolling Stoner Keith Richards has been vocal about his disdain for knighthood, calling it a “paltry honor” that wasn’t true to what the Stones are about. In true Richards style, he said all this after once self-proclaimed “anarchist” Mick Jagger had already accepted his knighthood, which, by the way, was given rather dubiously. Reportedly, the Queen of England didn’t have “the stomach” to award gyrating Jagger with the honor, leaving it up to the Prince of Wales to do the dirty work.
Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn is the Queen of Country for a reason – she is hands-down the most awarded woman in country music. Lynn has won numerous industry awards, and in 1995, was also the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors award, a distinction given to performers that have made significant contributions to American culture. Just last month, President Obama announced Lynn will be awarded with the Medal of Freedom, calling her a “country legend.”
Bob Dylan He may have made a living singing anti-establishment songs for decades, but Bob Dylan had no problem being awarded the Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2012. Obama said of Dylan that there was no “bigger giant in the history of American music” and commended him for his messages of freedom, while Dylan, in proper Dylan style, attended the ceremony looking like a lost Tim Burton character.
Oprah It’s no surprise that Oprah will be the owner of a Medal of Honor since Oprah owns pretty much everything. Along with Loretta Lynn, Oprah is also being awarded the prestigious honor for her long-standing philanthropy charity work this year.
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School is hard enough as it is, but what’s really annoying is seeing people who never even stepped into a campus get graduate degrees. Many stars receive honorary degrees, but Jack White may have topped them all by recently being named the honorary Dean at Fermatta Music Academy. Forget getting a Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctorate, and spending years on the faculty of a university playing ping-pong politics with academic bureaucrats – Jack White is from the White Stripes, so requirements are obviously irrelevant.
Here are some other stars that got to go to their own graduate-level convocations, even though they never went to class.
Oprah Ok, Oprah getting an honorary degree isn’t too difficult to validate because...well, Oprah. Oprah received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard in May 2013. Before that, she received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree Duke in 2009 and a Fine Arts degree from Princeton in 2002.
Alexander Skarsgard In 2011, Alexander Skarsgard got an honorary doctorate degree in the arts from Leeds Metropolitan University. It would’ve made more sense if it was an honorary doctorate degree in looking-smoking-hot-while-being-a-naked-Viking-vampire, but it was nice of him to accept what he ended up with.
Ben Affleck The man who will always be known as one-half of the original “Bennifer,” no matter how many Oscars he wins, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University in 2013. Affleck’s words of wisdom to the graduating class? “Now I surpass Matt Damon!”
Jack Nicholson Another Brown University not-really-alumnus is Jack Nicholson. The film veteran received a Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 2011. Were all the Doctor of Fine Badassery degrees taken?
William Shatner In 2011, the one and only William Shatner asked Scotty to beam him up to Montreal, where he was awarded with an honorary doctorate degree from McGill University, his alma mater. Really, Shatner should’ve been giving McGill an honorary degree for being able to contain that awesomeness that is The Shat.
Jon Bon Jovi Does JBJ look like someone you could talk to about Sophoclean tragedies, Heidegger’s concept of earth, or Kant’s doctrines of Right and Virtue? Monmouth University sure thinks so. The rocker was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the University in 2001. Living on a prayer must really pay off.
Meryl Streep Along with her collection of acting awards, Meryl Streep also has a collection of Ivy League honorary degrees. Streep has a Doctor of Fine Arts from Yale, a Doctor of Fine Arts from Princeton, and a Doctor of Arts from Harvard. In this case, Streep literally Meryl-Streep-ed her way into the universities’ hearts.
Kermit the Frog Yes, you read that right. Fame is so important in our society that you don’t even have to be real to get an honorary degree that doesn't even exist (how's that for meta?). Mr. Frog received his Doctorate of Amphibious Letters from New York’s Southampton College. And yes, he also gave a speech.
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A colleague at Hollywood.com asked me whether one of the constituents of a good Tim Burton movie was Johnny Depp. After doing some research, we had noticed out of 16 movies, eight with Johnny Depp and eight without, both groups total nearly the exact same gross and averaged the same on the "Tomato Meter" on Rotten Tomatoes. Though this may seem like a deadlock, there are actually some more subtle elements to consider that reveal a kindred spirit action between the both of them, which often transcends their work for the bottom dollar.
First, we should rule out the Batman movies, which prove high on the box office level for Burton — if a little lukewarm critically — without the presence of Depp. The fact that the titular comic book character transcends the director as far as notoriety, makes considering Depp's inclusion a moot point. After all, back in the early '90s, Depp had only begun his film career.
Sandwiched in between these two films, however, is Burton's first film with Depp: Edward Scissorhands (1990). According to Box Office Mojo, while the Batman films made hundreds of millions of dollars during their theatrical runs, Edward Scissorhands maxed out at just over $56 million. The oddball film about an orphaned creation of a mad scientist with scissors for hands stands above Burton's inventive take on Batman as the best received, critically, among this trio of films. No matter the weird and creative spin Burton gave the DC hero, it pales against the Gothic fairy-tale of Edward Scissorhands.
If type-casting was a factor, one might credit Burton for leading Depp to a healthy career of rather quirky characters that have become the actor's bread and butter, from the Buster Keaton-obsessed loner Sam of Benny and Joon (1993) to Captain Jack Sparrow in the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It has been a diverse career for someone who started on TV as a teen idol on 21 Jump Street, yet one that seems to remain defined by his quirky turn as Edward Scissorhands.
There was another early success for the pair, and sentimentality might want to make this critic argue that it stands as their best work. It also happens to be their critical pinnacle, if least commercial success: 1994's Ed Wood. Their biopic about the cross-dressing director, shot in black and white, benefitted greatly by Depp's scenery-chewing portrayal. However, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) remains one of the collaborators’ purest works on many uncompromising levels, considering its black humor, R-rated horror and the fact that it was a musical, featuring Depp's first singing role in a cockney accent not too different from David Bowie's voice.
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But even without Depp, Burton does not seem helpless to conjure up some the most bizarre and beloved characters of contemporary cinema. One of Burton's most enduring creations remains Jack Skellington and the denizens of Halloweentown. Though The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) was directed by Henry Selick, Burton conceived the story and characters with the help of screenwriter Caroline Thompson. It bombed at the box office, but found new life with a cult following and later a re-release in 3-D (2006). Thompson also helped realize another of his zaniest, beguiling stop-motion experiences, which Burton this time directed: Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005). The latter film also included Depp in a lead performance as the bride’s betrothed, playing the straight man to a cast of undead, madcap characters.
Later mutual successes, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Alice in Wonderland (2010), have proven Burton and Depp's greatest hits financially. Alice failed with many critics, however, who seemed to have grown tired of Depp's over-the-top reliance on make-up and quirks as the Mad Hatter, and Burton’s diversion from the source material to turn Alice’s story into some sort of action-adventure video game. Commercially, one must also consider that 3-D had reached its height at this point and moviegoers had easily bought into the 3-D hype (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was then one of the rare films released in the even higher-priced IMAX 3-D format), which has since lost its luster. Finally, like Batman, both films were based on previous works of acclaim and popularity that had their built-in audiences and once again transcend the Burton/Depp following.
There were times it seemed Burton needed Depp to achieve success. Mars Attacks! (1996) seemed to bust upon initial release but endures as a campy, send-up of '50s-era sci-fi flying saucer films. However, the director reteamed with Depp for the director’s highly anticipated take on Sleepy Hollow (1999), which only did slightly better critically than Mars but made three times the revenue at the box office. Likewise, Frankenweenie (2012), a third stop-motion animated film associated with Burton but without Depp, and his latest work, fell below expectations, financially. Burton’s take on the Dark Shadows soap opera of the '70s, earlier that year, did not receive a positive critical consensus, but its box office performance was nothing to sneeze at. It featured Depp in another freakish role, as the film's patriarchal vampire.
Considering these events, it would indeed seem that Burton needs Depp. But the fact remains that Burton provided an important channel for defining Depp's career that also enforced the beautiful grotesque of the Burton world. On the other hand, Burton does not necessarily need Depp to continue making his particular brand of cinema. It says something that he can succeed at Deppless ventures like reinventing Batman in his Gothic/freak show aesthetic, and creating an original character as iconic as Beetle Juice (who would spin off into his own Saturday morning cartoon series). That it may seem Burton has failed to reach such success without Depp recently only speaks to the ebb and flow of their track record together. After all, it’s the Burton aesthetic that set the platform for Depp’s career path. Though he may not be as successful at it commercially nowadays, Burton still has a strong sensibility true to his core being. The creatures in the underrated Mars Attacks! and Frankenweenie feature a bizarre yet enchanting melding of horror and humor that walk a precarious line most directors easily tumble off. No one can walk that line and make it on his own terms better than Tim Burton, but does he need Johnny Depp? It's nice to think so. And luckily, they both seem keen on continuing that relationship.
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One of recently retired anime director Hayao Miyazaki's great gifts was adaptation. He transformed Diana Wynne Jones' spectacular novel Howl's Moving Castle into a world of bright colors and melancholy, and he recently spun a tale of genius and wonder out of the story of Japanese airplane designer Jiro Horikoshi. His company, Studio Ghibli, will hopefully continue to create beautiful worlds, but Miyazaki will be missed. Here are a few books that would have benefited from Miyazaki's magical touch.
1. The Phantom TollboothThis classic children's story hasn't been brought to the screen since 1970, and the book's letter trees and number mines would have looked beautiful in Miyazaki's world.
2. The Little PrinceMiyazaki didn't shy away from the philosophical or the surreal, and this classic French tale would have been perfect for him.
3. "The Boy Who Drew Cats"This Japanese fairy tale centers around a boy whose drawings could come to life, and we'd love to see how that would look in Miyazaki's animation.
4. The Secret GardenThis novel exists at the intersection between fairy tales and adult themes in which Miyazaki thrived, and the hidden garden would look specatacular under his direction.
5. The Graveyard BookThis Neil Gaiman book is already in talks at Disney, but Studio Ghibli could have turned the creepy-cute graveyard adventure story into a haunting masterpiece.
6. Alice in WonderlandTim Burton used to be the king of whimsy, but his Alice adaptation fell flat. Miyazaki could have created a far more beautiful world with a lot more surprises.
7. AbaratThis beautifully illustrated fantasy novel creates an amazing world where each island is a different hour of the day, and we'd love to see Miyazaki's take on Clive Barker's illustrations.
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Designed anti-litter poster that won top prize in local California refuse company contest, while still in high school; Burton's artwork adorned Burbank garbage trucks for one year

Produced and directed "Mars Attacks!"; second film with Nicholson, who played dual role of U.S. President and a sleazy Las Vegas car dealer

Directed "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," the feature adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical; re-teamed with longtime collaborator Depp who played the title role; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director for a Motion

Directed first TV commercial, pitching Hollywood Gum for the European market

Summary

Despite his contrarian artiste nature and indie filmmaker persona, director Tim Burton helmed some of the biggest blockbusters in Hollywood history. With his roots in drawing and animation, Burton crafted over his career distinctly designed films that reflected the gothic horror influences of his youth. Starting with "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" (1985), Burton quickly developed a reputation for a surreal artistic vision that often overshadowed narrative necessities. But his films were financially successful, leading to him directing the first two installments of the lucrative Dark Knight series, "Batman" (1989) and "Batman Returns" (1992). With "Ed Wood" (1994), however, Burton finally earned the respect of critics with his comically optimistic look at a befuddling filmmaker (Johnny Depp) prone to cross-dressing and making bad movies. Further cementing his reputation as a visual artist of the highest caliber, Burton lent his dark, deft touch to the likes of "Sleepy Hollow" (1999), "Big Fish" (2003) and the acclaimed macabre musical, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007). Three years later, the director delivered the smash hit "Alice in Wonderland" (2010), quickly followed by "Dark Shadows" (2012) and "Frankenweenie" (2012). Once considered an eccentric outsider, Burton had, without a doubt, evolved in to one of Hollywood's most admired and successful filmmakers with an instantly recognizable point of view.

Name

Role

Comments

Bill Burton

Father

Worked as Burbank, CA parks official after retiring from baseball due to an injury; Died 2000

Education

Name

California Institute of the Arts

Notes

On the apoplectic response to "Batman Returns" and parental upset about a McDonald's merchandising tie-in: "I mean, I'm sorry, but I didn't ask to put this stuff on the side of a McDonald's carton. Besides, why aren't these people objecting to the junk McDonald's is pushing as food? I felt the whole controvery was simply remnants of the whole family values baloney. These movies are people running around in bad costumes. How relevant are we being here?" – Burton to the Daily News, Oct. 12, 1993

"Kind of sad, really, the way they experience the seasons in California, walking down the aisles at Thrifty's." – Burton on Christmas in California, quoted in People, Nov. 22, 1993

"I enjoyed working with animation a little," he says. "But I love actors and sets and all of that. It's just more fun. No matter what you're doing, you stand back, and it's like there are all these people standing around in funny clothes looking at you. Maybe I seem to them like the most foul-tempered, sealed-off zombie creature, but I get such incredible joy. It's like a wonderful, absurd dream." – Burton quoted in Time, Nov. 24, 2003

"Tim is a genius and I don't use that word lightly. The definition of a great artist is someone who doesn't care much what other people think. Tim cares what people think of his movies but he has that core essence, that compulsion, to do his art. I accept that about him. And his instincts are unerring. I've never seen them to be wrong on any small or large decision. Ever. His instincts emanate from a place that's very pure, truly artistic." – producer Denise Di Novi to Movieline, June 1994

"'Beetlejuice' was really the only movie I've done that gave me that feeling of, 'F*ck everybody!' I could just do what I wanted and that felt great. There's really no plot to it, but that's common in many of my movies!" – Burton to Empire, September 2005

"There are a lot of projects that explore the dark side of suburbia and there is a reason for it because there is a dark side," Burton continues. "It’s got that mask of normalcy which is truly disturbing." – to The London Times, Oct. 28, 2006

"There are people who pretend like they know movies. But if somebody really knew movies, every film he made would be a success." – Burton to Esquire, January 2008